 t was a dull valley in which the Victory had come down in. It held no charm and was dotted with ugly, barbed bushes. The ground was shattered and laid waste as if it had been routed by war several centuries ago. The weeds poked out of the surface only to be greeted by the stark clouds above. It was a picture of misery.
The undercarriage was lowered and gently The Victory came to rest, a black vapour continued to seep from the engines and around the ship. It stood like a headstone, an epitaph from casual visitors. On the bridge of The Victory, the Captain looked at the same view on the scanner screen. He was far from impressed.
'Another hole for us to explore,' he said and turned to his crew. 'Will we need spacesuits?'
'The air is breathable and the gravity is bearable. It's quite harmless.'
Johnson nodded. 'Alright,' he sighed, 'Just get the scientists from below and kick them out when I give the word to open the hatch.' He stood up and as he turned away, heading from the exit of the bridge, he said, 'I'll be in my cabin. Be ready in five.'
~ ~ ~ ~ ~
 kay! Open up!'
The hatchway swung open and the ramp descended to the ground. Johnson walked out on to the surface and looked around. He reached down and picked up a handful of soil. It was dry and it crumbled to dust in his hand. He noted how bleached it's colour was.
'It's like a moon,' Renshaw said, picking her way towards him. 'No animal life, just rocks and boulders.'
Johnson had noticed that for himself, but wasn't in the mood to argue. 'Enjoy it while you can.' he murmured.
'Captain!'
Johnson quickly turned at the sound of one of his crew members calling out. The officer in question was pointing his pistol at something just out of sight, around the corner of the ship. Johnson and Renshaw began to walk towards the scene, promting the officer to explain himself.
'I found something lurking around the other side of the ship.'
The answer was answered by an indignant cry. 'I wasn't lurking.' the voice continued to point out, 'just studying the design.'
Johnson waved his arm. 'Flush him out!'
The crew member reached behind the ship and dragged the mysterious person out. The person in question wore a coat which can only be described as a patchwork quilt clashing and unlikely colours. The waistcoat he wore was similar in that respect and had a watch and chain hanging from its pockets. The trousers he wore were yellow, striped with black and his shoes were brown and swathed in orange spats and his hair was an unruly mess of blond hair. The strangely garbed Victorian figure waved a multicoloured umbrella at the crewmember.
'Being cooped up like a battery hen doesn't seem to have done you any good,' he snapped, 'Have you been wormed recently?'
The crew member aimed his pistol at the alien that stood before him his intent on hitting should he have to pull the trigger. 'Just shut your mouth!'
'Charming!' was the response.
Renshaw drew up with her scanner, a small handheld device which all of the Scientific crew members carried. Johnson noticed it and quickly stopped her from suggesting its use.
'Scan him!'
Renshaw held up the device and aimed it at the stranger. The image produced on the small screen gave a sort of heat-sense / x-ray. Renshaw looked puzzled. 'Definitely non-human. Two hearts, apparently. But he can't possibly have originated from here, he must have landed here, like us.'
Johnson moved forward to cover the stranger. He didn't like things that he couldn't understand. 'Who the hell are you?'
'I'm usually referred to as The Doctor.'
'Oh, is that so?'
'Universally.'
'Why are you here?'
The Doctor shrugged and twirled his umbrella. 'I was just passing.'
Johnson kicked the umbrella out of his hand.'In a ship?'
The Doctor turned towards him slowly. 'Of sorts.' He looked up at The Victory. 'It's a bit more advanced than the heap you arrived in.'
'Enough of the snide remarks,' Johnson growled, 'What do you know?'
The clown spread his arms and smiled broadly saying, 'Absolutely nothing at all'
 
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graveyard of the daleks page2
